I find it interesting that God finds me interesting.

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” Psalms 139 NIV

As a boy, my awareness that God was always watching was disturbing. I suppose I felt this way because I thought He was watching in the sense of waiting for me to mess up somehow so He could punish me. As an adult I am grateful that God is interested in our lives. This change in the way I feel is mainly due to Jesus. His favourite designation of God is the word “Father.” God’s surveillance when of people isn’t like that of a policeman but a loving parent. As a parent He will certainly discipline when needed but always to instruct not to harm. Conversations Within” ts 3/25/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

I find it interesting that God finds me interesting.

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” Psalms 139 NIV

As a boy, my awareness that God was always watching was disturbing. I suppose I felt this way because I thought He was watching in the sense of waiting for me to mess up somehow so He could punish me. As an adult I am grateful that God is interested in our lives. This change in the way I feel is mainly due to Jesus. His favourite designation of God is the word “Father.” God’s surveillance when of people isn’t like that of a policeman but a loving parent. As a parent He will certainly discipline when needed but always to instruct not to harm. Conversations Within” ts 3/25/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

“The problem with the gene pool is that there's no lifeguard.” David Gerrold

“Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” 1Cor.15

Christians believe that we have two sets of genes. Our physical genes cause us to bear a resemblance to our physical parents. Now that Christ has entered our heart we are starting to bear a spiritual resemblance to Him. He has implanted a set of divine genes in those who are spiritually reborn. Our physical genes have left their mark on each of us and the clock of our mortality is winding down. The good news is that the spiritual genes of Christ are beginning to leave their mark in us and the clock of immortality is winding up. Conversations Within” ts 3/21/2013 (Selma, AL)

“The problem with the gene pool is that there's no lifeguard.” David Gerrold

“Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” 1Cor.15

Christians believe that we have two sets of genes. Our physical genes cause us to bear a resemblance to our physical parents. Now that Christ has entered our heart we are starting to bear a spiritual resemblance to Him. He has implanted a set of divine genes in those who are spiritually reborn. Our physical genes have left their mark on each of us and the clock of our mortality is winding down. The good news is that the spiritual genes of Christ are beginning to leave their mark in us and the clock of immortality is winding up. Conversations Within” ts 3/21/2013 (Selma, AL)

“Life! life! Eternal life!” Pilgrim's Progress

“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.” Rom.5

We are painfully reminded everyday of the devastating results of our first parents decision to disobey God. But as evil permeates our world, the seed of Christ’s obedience is sprouting everywhere. Incredible acts of faith and love are growing in some unlikely places. The power of sin is seen everywhere, but the power of love will conquer. Christ was sown a seed in His death, but in his resurrection He is growing in the hearts of people everywhere. Conversations Within” ts 3/21/2013 (Camp Farrington, AL)

“Life! life! Eternal life!” Pilgrim's Progress

“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.” Rom.5

We are painfully reminded everyday of the devastating results of our first parents decision to disobey God. But as evil permeates our world, the seed of Christ’s obedience is sprouting everywhere. Incredible acts of faith and love are growing in some unlikely places. The power of sin is seen everywhere, but the power of love will conquer. Christ was sown a seed in His death, but in his resurrection He is growing in the hearts of people everywhere. Conversations Within” ts 3/21/2013 (Camp Farrington, AL)

“Death is no longer a prison, but a passage into God’s presence.” Clarence W. Hall

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Ps.116

When death touched Christ, it was not Christ, but death itself, that was forever changed. The door which once carried us away from God’s presence has been made into an entrance. Because of Christ, death does not carry us away from our hearts desire, but carries us to it. In this sense we are able then to view death no longer as an enemy, but as a friend. Conversations Within” ts 3/20/2013 (Camp Farrington, AL)

“Death is no longer a prison, but a passage into God’s presence.” Clarence W. Hall

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Ps.116

When death touched Christ, it was not Christ, but death itself, that was forever changed. The door which once carried us away from God’s presence has been made into an entrance. Because of Christ, death does not carry us away from our hearts desire, but carries us to it. In this sense we are able then to view death no longer as an enemy, but as a friend. Conversations Within” ts 3/20/2013 (Camp Farrington, AL)

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.” Pope John Paul II

Death where is your sting? 1Cor.15

I have a new sin. I have started coveting youthfulness and despair growing old. This happens when I focus on my failing strength rather than the strengthening of my Christian faith. Do I really believe in the resurrection? How firm is my expectation that a thousand years hence I will be somewhere better doing something I love. Life is so good I could do it forever. My faith tells me that because of Jesus I will. Believe it boy! He is risen! You too shall rise! Conversations Within” ts 3/20/2013 (Camp Farrington, AL)

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.” Pope John Paul II

Death where is your sting? 1Cor.15

I have a new sin. I have started coveting youthfulness and despair growing old. This happens when I focus on my failing strength rather than the strengthening of my Christian faith. Do I really believe in the resurrection? How firm is my expectation that a thousand years hence I will be somewhere better doing something I love. Life is so good I could do it forever. My faith tells me that because of Jesus I will. Believe it boy! He is risen! You too shall rise! Conversations Within” ts 3/20/2013 (Camp Farrington, AL)

It seems inconsistent to view the disciples of Jesus as liars, fabricating what would be the greatest lie in history when their manner of living was centered around all that we commonly accept as moral and good.

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.” 1John 1

I am a Christian as much from the eyewitness testimony of the original disciples as I am because of the claims of Jesus Himself. One is tied inseparably to the other. Why would I not believe an eyewitness account when the ones giving it where men and women of such credible repute, not to mention that most of them died because they made claim to it? I have accepted other historical events on less weighty testimony. I honestly do not know what to do with their claim to have witnessed the resurrection than to believe it. Conversations Within” ts 3/19/2013 (Camp Farrington, AL)

It seems inconsistent to view the disciples of Jesus as liars, fabricating what would be the greatest lie in history when their manner of living was centered around all that we commonly accept as moral and good.

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.” 1John 1

I am a Christian as much from the eyewitness testimony of the original disciples as I am because of the claims of Jesus Himself. One is tied inseparably to the other. Why would I not believe an eyewitness account when the ones giving it where men and women of such credible repute, not to mention that most of them died because they made claim to it? I have accepted other historical events on less weighty testimony. I honestly do not know what to do with their claim to have witnessed the resurrection than to believe it. Conversations Within” ts 3/19/2013 (Camp Farrington, AL)

“The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his [Jesus’] teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead.” Tim Keller

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” Jesus

Without His resurrection, everything Jesus said would be just one more opinion in a sea of human opinion. But if the resurrection really happened, everything Jesus said has unparalleled authority. I am not sure which is worse: to dismiss the resurrection and the claims of Christ or to believe in them and yet live as if it makes no difference at all. Conversations Within” ts 3/18/2013 (Camp Farrington, AL)

“The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his [Jesus’] teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead.” Tim Keller

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” Jesus

Without His resurrection, everything Jesus said would be just one more opinion in a sea of human opinion. But if the resurrection really happened, everything Jesus said has unparalleled authority. I am not sure which is worse: to dismiss the resurrection and the claims of Christ or to believe in them and yet live as if it makes no difference at all. Conversations Within” ts 3/18/2013 (Camp Farrington, AL)

“The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart.” Anonymous

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. (Psalm 28:7 NIV)”

God is seen by the heart. It is in the heart that faith embraces Him. God desires our heart, not our compliance. He dwells in the heart, speaks to the heart, renews the heart, and asks us to love Him with all of the heart. It’s all heart where God is concerned. Conversations Within” ts 3/16/2013 (Jax, FL)

“The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart.” Anonymous

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. (Psalm 28:7 NIV)”

God is seen by the heart. It is in the heart that faith embraces Him. God desires our heart, not our compliance. He dwells in the heart, speaks to the heart, renews the heart, and asks us to love Him with all of the heart. It’s all heart where God is concerned. Conversations Within” ts 3/16/2013 (Jax, FL)

“You can't ride two horses with one behind.” Woody Allen

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1Jo.2

I want wholehearted devotion with God. The problem with most of us is that we also want things which keep us from having one. A divided heart is torn between two loves. When we give our heart to God we must abandon the love of the world. God will not allow us a mistress. Imagine the horror of cheating on your spouse and we catch a glimpse of what it means when we hold on to our secret sins. Conversations Within” ts 3/15/2013 (Jax, FL)

“You can't ride two horses with one behind.” Woody Allen

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1Jo.2

I want wholehearted devotion with God. The problem with most of us is that we also want things which keep us from having one. A divided heart is torn between two loves. When we give our heart to God we must abandon the love of the world. God will not allow us a mistress. Imagine the horror of cheating on your spouse and we catch a glimpse of what it means when we hold on to our secret sins. Conversations Within” ts 3/15/2013 (Jax, FL)

“The more often he feels without acting, the less he will be able ever to act, and, in the long run, the less he will be able to feel.” C.S. Lewis

"I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ezek.36

Man’s heart is made up of three parts: the mind or intellect, our will to act and our emotions or feelings. I think originally all three were delicately and harmoniously designed to function as one. Somehow we have managed to separate them into individual parts so that it is in our present state possible to feel without acting or know without doing. Of course when you take something apart it doesn’t work as it should. Christ has come to heal this fragmentation of our heart so that what we know, we do and what we do we do with feeling. Conversations Within” ts 3/14/2013 (Jax, FL)

“The more often he feels without acting, the less he will be able ever to act, and, in the long run, the less he will be able to feel.” C.S. Lewis

"I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ezek.36

Man’s heart is made up of three parts: the mind or intellect, our will to act and our emotions or feelings. I think originally all three were delicately and harmoniously designed to function as one. Somehow we have managed to separate them into individual parts so that it is in our present state possible to feel without acting or know without doing. Of course when you take something apart it doesn’t work as it should. Christ has come to heal this fragmentation of our heart so that what we know, we do and what we do we do with feeling. Conversations Within” ts 3/14/2013 (Jax, FL)

"A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge." - Thomas Carlyle

“Love the Lord with all of your heart.” Jesus

Every heart is inherently designed to love and be loved. The affections that we learned from and for, our mother and father have taught us to give our heart to what is valuable. Hopefully our parents have taught us that God is supremely valuable, and that we are wise to give our heart to Him. We should make no mistake about it, God wants our heart not, just an empty compliance to a set of rules. Conversations Within” ts 3/13/2013 (Jax, FL)

"A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge." - Thomas Carlyle

“Love the Lord with all of your heart.” Jesus

Every heart is inherently designed to love and be loved. The affections that we learned from and for, our mother and father have taught us to give our heart to what is valuable. Hopefully our parents have taught us that God is supremely valuable, and that we are wise to give our heart to Him. We should make no mistake about it, God wants our heart not, just an empty compliance to a set of rules. Conversations Within” ts 3/13/2013 (Jax, FL)

“The most tremendous judgment of God in this world is the hardening of the hearts of men.” John Owen

“And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Exodus 14

Why did God harden Pharaoh's heart? The Bible also tells us, “And Pharaoh hardened his heart.” God simply let Pharaoh have his way. In other words, He gave Pharaoh over to his own desires. God will not force His Lordship on us because love demands that we be free to love Him in return. But, this freedom is a two-edged sword. We can choose to refuse God His rightful place in our lives. The Hell we create is the result of doing so. C. S. Lewis is right: “The doors of Hell are locked on the inside.” Conversations Within” ts 3/12/2013 (Jax, FL)

“The most tremendous judgment of God in this world is the hardening of the hearts of men.” John Owen

“And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Exodus 14

Why did God harden Pharaoh's heart? The Bible also tells us, “And Pharaoh hardened his heart.” God simply let Pharaoh have his way. In other words, He gave Pharaoh over to his own desires. God will not force His Lordship on us because love demands that we be free to love Him in return. But, this freedom is a two-edged sword. We can choose to refuse God His rightful place in our lives. The Hell we create is the result of doing so. C. S. Lewis is right: “The doors of Hell are locked on the inside.” Conversations Within” ts 3/12/2013 (Jax, FL)

“Hardening of the heart ages people more quickly than hardening of the arteries” Anonymous

“Do not harden your hearts!” Heb.3

Heart disease runs in my family. It is built into my genes yet I am told that I can reverse it through proper diet and exercise. Spiritual heart disease runs in my family; not just my immediate family but in the human family. We all suffer heart disease where God is concerned. It is built into our fallen makeup. And, like its physical counterpart, spiritual nourishment and the exercises of faith can heal it. If we do not realize this about ourselves we may see no need to visit the Cardiologist of the soul or follow His prescriptions. Conversations Within” ts 3/11/2013 (Jax, FL)

“Hardening of the heart ages people more quickly than hardening of the arteries” Anonymous

“Do not harden your hearts!” Heb.3

Heart disease runs in my family. It is built into my genes yet I am told that I can reverse it through proper diet and exercise. Spiritual heart disease runs in my family; not just my immediate family but in the human family. We all suffer heart disease where God is concerned. It is built into our fallen makeup. And, like its physical counterpart, spiritual nourishment and the exercises of faith can heal it. If we do not realize this about ourselves we may see no need to visit the Cardiologist of the soul or follow His prescriptions. Conversations Within” ts 3/11/2013 (Jax, FL)

The key to self-control is not so much restraint as it is redirection.

“No temptation has taken you...” 1Cor.10

Don’t resist temptation; remove it by doing something else. Redirect your focus and energies to something good and do it the very second temptation knocks. To wait, is to wade further into the mire and you will soon find yourself wallowing in it. Train yourself to walk away. I am not saying that you should read the Bible every time you are tempted, go surfing, read a book, just get up and do something different. There is no need to get “spiritual” about it just redirect your focus. Conversations Within” ts 3/9/2013 (Jax, FL)

The key to self-control is not so much restraint as it is redirection.

“No temptation has taken you...” 1Cor.10

Don’t resist temptation; remove it by doing something else. Redirect your focus and energies to something good and do it the very second temptation knocks. To wait, is to wade further into the mire and you will soon find yourself wallowing in it. Train yourself to walk away. I am not saying that you should read the Bible every time you are tempted, go surfing, read a book, just get up and do something different. There is no need to get “spiritual” about it just redirect your focus. Conversations Within” ts 3/9/2013 (Jax, FL)

"Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self..." C S Lewis

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Jesus

A seed is only a seed until it is sown in the ground. Only its death can release its full and intended potential. We too must die to ourselves if we are to discover the life of God in us. The practical side of this is simply saying, “Not my will, but your will be done,” and then living it. To say “not my will” is death; to say “your will be done” is resurrection and lasting fruit. Conversations Within” ts 3/8/2013 (Jax, FL)

"Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self..." C S Lewis

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Jesus

A seed is only a seed until it is sown in the ground. Only its death can release its full and intended potential. We too must die to ourselves if we are to discover the life of God in us. The practical side of this is simply saying, “Not my will, but your will be done,” and then living it. To say “not my will” is death; to say “your will be done” is resurrection and lasting fruit. Conversations Within” ts 3/8/2013 (Jax, FL)

The power of self-control is born in self-surrender.

“He who loses his life gains it.” Jesus

A person can be disciplined yet still be enslaved to pride. Moderation in food and drink just to look good or for personal vanities is hardly freedom. Christ tells us that real freedom comes only after we have surrendered to God’s purposes. Surrender you say? Where is the freedom in that? There are two sorts of surrendered spirits. The first surrenders because they are defeated but they want nothing of surrender. The second and this is the meek about which Jesus speaks, are those who willfully surrender. The difference is that they have come to realize that life submitted to God’s rule offers greater freedom than they ever had under the tyranny of their own rule. Conversations Within” ts 3/7/2013 (Jax, FL)

The power of self-control is born in self-surrender.

“He who loses his life gains it.” Jesus

A person can be disciplined yet still be enslaved to pride. Moderation in food and drink just to look good or for personal vanities is hardly freedom. Christ tells us that real freedom comes only after we have surrendered to God’s purposes. Surrender you say? Where is the freedom in that? There are two sorts of surrendered spirits. The first surrenders because they are defeated but they want nothing of surrender. The second and this is the meek about which Jesus speaks, are those who willfully surrender. The difference is that they have come to realize that life submitted to God’s rule offers greater freedom than they ever had under the tyranny of their own rule. Conversations Within” ts 3/7/2013 (Jax, FL)

“The ability to subordinate an impulse to a value is the essence of the proactive person.” Stephen R. Covey

“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Jesus

Self government is one of the first lessons in life. God uses parents, school teachers and hard knocks to teach it to us. The ability to manage ourselves, to influence our own actions is fundamental if we are to live life in the freedom that God intends. True freedom teaches us to incline our heart to live by our values rather than desires, or emotions or anything that would tempt us to trade our soul for the superior delights of everlasting life. Conversations Within” ts 3/6/2013 (Jax, FL)

“The ability to subordinate an impulse to a value is the essence of the proactive person.” Stephen R. Covey

“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Jesus

Self government is one of the first lessons in life. God uses parents, school teachers and hard knocks to teach it to us. The ability to manage ourselves, to influence our own actions is fundamental if we are to live life in the freedom that God intends. True freedom teaches us to incline our heart to live by our values rather than desires, or emotions or anything that would tempt us to trade our soul for the superior delights of everlasting life. Conversations Within” ts 3/6/2013 (Jax, FL)

“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” Eleanor Roosevelt

“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” Prov.25

Let me exercise compassion toward weakness in others and self-control toward my own.When I see people speaking out against the sins of others, a vivid teenage memory comes to mind. A “karate for Christ” expert had asked for a volunteer to cut a watermelon in half with a samurai sword. The keynote preacher, who had just finished a fiery sermon against sins related to self-control was drafted to lay on his back for the demonstration. He got tickled and started laughing. I can still see that watermelon bouncing up and down on his very generous belly. I think God sometimes highlights our own weaknesses to humble us and help us never judge or condemn others. Conversations Within” ts 3/5/2013 (Jax, FL)

“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” Eleanor Roosevelt

“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” Prov.25

Let me exercise compassion toward weakness in others and self-control toward my own.When I see people speaking out against the sins of others, a vivid teenage memory comes to mind. A “karate for Christ” expert had asked for a volunteer to cut a watermelon in half with a samurai sword. The keynote preacher, who had just finished a fiery sermon against sins related to self-control was drafted to lay on his back for the demonstration. He got tickled and started laughing. I can still see that watermelon bouncing up and down on his very generous belly. I think God sometimes highlights our own weaknesses to humble us and help us never judge or condemn others. Conversations Within” ts 3/5/2013 (Jax, FL)

“How do you expect to defeat the devil if you can’t even defeat a chocolate chip cookie!?!?” Joyce Meyer

“If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.” James 3 NIV

Self-control in one area will teach it in another. If I learn to hold my tongue I can learn to push away from the table. The pattern that determines our actions is the same for one as it is the other. All action is conceived in thought before it is born an action. This is true of what we say as well as what we do. Change your thoughts and you will change your actions. Self-control begins on the battlefield of the mind. Conversations Within” ts 3/4/2013 (Reidsville, GA)

“How do you expect to defeat the devil if you can’t even defeat a chocolate chip cookie!?!?” Joyce Meyer

“If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.” James 3 NIV

Self-control in one area will teach it in another. If I learn to hold my tongue I can learn to push away from the table. The pattern that determines our actions is the same for one as it is the other. All action is conceived in thought before it is born an action. This is true of what we say as well as what we do. Change your thoughts and you will change your actions. Self-control begins on the battlefield of the mind. Conversations Within” ts 3/4/2013 (Reidsville, GA)

“Lives have swiveled and changed direction on the strength of a chance remark.” Bryce Courtenay

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” Is.30

God speaks to people all of the time. A random comment made by a friend; a billboard on the side of the road; witnessing something in nature; or reading words from the Bible have all been means of bringing us His words. Of course many voices can speak to the soul, not all of them good but every one of them can and will use the same means. It is our willingness to do God’s will that brings us the certainty that it is God speaking to us, not our selfishness or some demon trying to impersonate Him. Conversations Within” ts 3/2/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

“Lives have swiveled and changed direction on the strength of a chance remark.” Bryce Courtenay

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” Is.30

God speaks to people all of the time. A random comment made by a friend; a billboard on the side of the road; witnessing something in nature; or reading words from the Bible have all been means of bringing us His words. Of course many voices can speak to the soul, not all of them good but every one of them can and will use the same means. It is our willingness to do God’s will that brings us the certainty that it is God speaking to us, not our selfishness or some demon trying to impersonate Him. Conversations Within” ts 3/2/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

"He lived in the moment brilliantly...He feasted on the details." Adam Stevens (speaking of Adam Strange, a New Zealand director who recently died in a shark attack)

“With my whole heart I seek you...” Ps.119

Wholehearted living is the only way to properly approach life. Be fully present in each moment; embrace it as God’s gift, and His joy will accompany your steps and His delight enhance your way. None of us knows if the next moment will be the last moment assigned to us in this place. When the bell rings that “school is out” let it find us living full, focused and running free in the eternal recess found in Christ. Conversations Within” ts 3/1/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

"He lived in the moment brilliantly...He feasted on the details." Adam Stevens (speaking of Adam Strange, a New Zealand director who recently died in a shark attack)

“With my whole heart I seek you...” Ps.119

Wholehearted living is the only way to properly approach life. Be fully present in each moment; embrace it as God’s gift, and His joy will accompany your steps and His delight enhance your way. None of us knows if the next moment will be the last moment assigned to us in this place. When the bell rings that “school is out” let it find us living full, focused and running free in the eternal recess found in Christ. Conversations Within” ts 3/1/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

“It is a mistake to think that moving fast is the same as actually going somewhere.” Steve Goodier

“Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.” Prov.19 ESV

Hurry hurts. It can be detrimental to our health; our work; our decisions. Basically haste wastes our quality of life. Hurry causes us to miss important details and robs us of the joy of embracing each precious moment. Rushed action is often regretted action. Conversations Within” ts 2/29/2013 (Madison, MS)

“It is a mistake to think that moving fast is the same as actually going somewhere.” Steve Goodier

“Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.” Prov.19 ESV

Hurry hurts. It can be detrimental to our health; our work; our decisions. Basically haste wastes our quality of life. Hurry causes us to miss important details and robs us of the joy of embracing each precious moment. Rushed action is often regretted action. Conversations Within” ts 2/29/2013 (Madison, MS)

“If you lose direction, go to a higher ground.” Toba Beta

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Ps.32

Most of us feel lost from time to time when the fog of worry, doubt or fear shroud life’s path. The Spirit of Christ will come to us in such times and promises to guide us. Even when we do not feel His presence He has given His word to never abandon those who choose Him as a companion and friend. Conversations Within” ts 2/27/2013 (Madison, MS)

“If you lose direction, go to a higher ground.” Toba Beta

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Ps.32

Most of us feel lost from time to time when the fog of worry, doubt or fear shroud life’s path. The Spirit of Christ will come to us in such times and promises to guide us. Even when we do not feel His presence He has given His word to never abandon those who choose Him as a companion and friend. Conversations Within” ts 2/27/2013 (Madison, MS)

If it feels good make sure it does good.

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good.” Eph.2

Not everything that feels good is good. Narcotics are known to feel good but can also have terrible consequences when abused. In fact, most things which are bad for us are simply the abuse of something good for us. One simple rule of wisdom is to measure the goodness of an activity before participating in it. Devote your energies only to goodness and you will have a good life. Train yourself with a simple question: “What is the good in doing this?” Conversations Within” ts 2/25/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

If it feels good make sure it does good.

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good.” Eph.2

Not everything that feels good is good. Narcotics are known to feel good but can also have terrible consequences when abused. In fact, most things which are bad for us are simply the abuse of something good for us. One simple rule of wisdom is to measure the goodness of an activity before participating in it. Devote your energies only to goodness and you will have a good life. Train yourself with a simple question: “What is the good in doing this?” Conversations Within” ts 2/25/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

“If we don’t change the direction we are going, we are likely to end up where we are heading.” Chinese Proverb

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus

Feelings of guilt often come to us when we think about God. But feeling guilty accomplishes nothing where real positive change is concerned. God does not want us to feel guilty; He wants us to repent--to change our direction. The only way to remedy going in the wrong direction is to turn around and head in the right one. The call to repentance isn’t to make us feel bad but to encourage us to seek what is good. Conversations Within” ts 2/24/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

“If we don’t change the direction we are going, we are likely to end up where we are heading.” Chinese Proverb

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus

Feelings of guilt often come to us when we think about God. But feeling guilty accomplishes nothing where real positive change is concerned. God does not want us to feel guilty; He wants us to repent--to change our direction. The only way to remedy going in the wrong direction is to turn around and head in the right one. The call to repentance isn’t to make us feel bad but to encourage us to seek what is good. Conversations Within” ts 2/24/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

”Listening is not waiting to talk.” – Scott Ginsberg

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”James 1

Learn to listen and you step out of selfishness and into love. The only reason some people ask a question is so they can give the answer. Listening is not an opportunity to multitask--not to think about what you want to say when it is your turn but to focus fully on what is being said while it is being said. To listen is also to hear what is not being said as much as what is being said. We must listen not only to the words but the tune of another’s song--the emotions beneath the words. Conversations Within” ts 2/23/2013 (Windsor Rock, AL)

”Listening is not waiting to talk.” – Scott Ginsberg

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”James 1

Learn to listen and you step out of selfishness and into love. The only reason some people ask a question is so they can give the answer. Listening is not an opportunity to multitask--not to think about what you want to say when it is your turn but to focus fully on what is being said while it is being said. To listen is also to hear what is not being said as much as what is being said. We must listen not only to the words but the tune of another’s song--the emotions beneath the words. Conversations Within” ts 2/23/2013 (Windsor Rock, AL)